A LOOK AT 1 TIMOTHY 3

UNION GROVE CHURCH OF CHRIST, CLEVELAND TN.

A LOOK AT 1 TIMOTHY 3:14,15

At the time Paul wrote the letter that we know as "First Timothy," he was preparing to pay Timothy a visit. That was his plan, anyway. But, what if he was unable to make that visit? What should Timothy do or continue doing if Paul never made it to him? One purpose of that first epistle to Timothy was to give him specific instructions about what he should be doing. "These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:14,15).

In this article we simply want to break down and analyze the two verses quoted above. What lessons can we learn from these inspired statements? What great truths are there for us to heed? Consider these:

(1) The apostles did not know everything: their knowledge of some things was limited. In this case we read that Paul "hoped" to come soon to Timothy, but he also wrote of the reality that it might not work out like he [Paul] wanted it to. The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into "all truth" and taught them "all things" (John 16:13; 14:26). The apostles understood "the deep things of God" that were revealed to them by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10,13). But they did not have absolute knowledge of all that would come about in their personal day to day activities. Nor could the apostles, despite their miraculous powers, control every affair of life. Once Paul told the saints at Thessalonica that he desired to come visit them, but Satan hindered him (1 Thessalonians 2:18). So, the apostles sometimes had plans or desires that went unfulfilled.

(2) The fact that the apostle Paul was uncertain about his future activities should serve as a reminder to all of us that none of us can guarantee what the future holds for our lives on earth. Life’s uncertainty is emphasized in the statement that our life is but a vapor that appears for a while, then vanishes (James 4:14). The message of Proverbs 27:1 is timely in every generation: "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Let each of us wisely use the time that we have on earth, truly "redeeming the time" (Ephesians 5:16) and being ever prepared for our departure from this life.

(3) The church is God’s house. The text plainly spells it out: ". . . in the house of God, which is the church . . ." (3:15). This fact is further seen in Ephesians 2:19, where we read of "the household of God." Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18), but the Bible also says that He is our high priest "over the house of God" (Hebrews 10:21). This again shows the church and house of God to be one and the same. To refer to the church as God’s "house" has nothing to do with the physical structure that we call a church building. The church building is not the house of God. Rather, to call the Lord’s church His "house" simply points to the fact that the church is His family. We are His children, sharing the same Father (Galatians 3:26,27). When God told Noah to come into the ark with his "house," He was talking about Noah’s family, not his living quarters (Genesis 7:1,7). What a great privilege it is to be part of the house or family of God!

(4) We serve a living God. Remember, it is "the church of the living God." He is not an idol that humans first imagined, then carved, and finally began to worship. No, He is the eternal One, existing "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2). Regardless of the form of idols that we once may have served, if we are in the Christ, we have "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

(5) God wants His children to know how to conduct themselves in His house. Again, that was one of the purposes of the book of 1Timothy – to instruct Timothy how he ought to "behave" himself in the house of God (3:15). He, then, was responsible for passing on such instruction to other saints, as it is written, "These things command and teach" (4:11). We learn God’s desire for our lives through His word, which serves as a lamp and light for us (Psalm 119:105). When we live in harmony with His standard/ word, then we are walking as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). Our Lord’s desire for each member of His family is for us to carry out the instruction of Titus 2:12, ". . . denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." Thank God that He has not left us to wonder how we should live. His word provides all the information that we need to guide our footsteps (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

(6) The church is "the pillar and ground of the truth." The church is not the source of truth, but rather the propagator and supporter of it. No mere human organization is the pillar and ground of the truth. That includes civil governments, social clubs, and man-made religions. The mission of the Lord’s church is to seek and save the lost, just as Jesus did (Luke 19:10). In seeking and saving the lost, the church teaches the gospel truth that makes men free (John 8:32; Mark 16:15), supports the preaching of the truth, and defends the truth (Philippians 1:7). As the truth’s pillar and ground, we must keep in mind this old, but ever timely directive: "Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).

(7) Timothy did not need Paul at his side in order to faithfully serve the Lord. Remember, Paul was writing to Timothy so that the latter could conduct himself properly in Paul’s absence. In the past, Paul had been a great help to Timothy. He had taught him, trained him, and by his lifestyle and attitude set a great example before his younger coworker. Yet, Paul was not Timothy’s master, mediator, or savior! Timothy needed to understand, as we all do, that serving the Lord is a personal matter. Our faith and trust must be in God, not men. Regardless of whether Paul was living and working with Timothy, or whether he was 1000 miles away, Timothy’s obligation to the Lord and his brethren was unchanging. May we all learn this lesson. We may all have our favorite preachers or other members of the church whom we greatly admire, however our allegiance and loyalty is not to them, but to King Jesus. To the saints in Philippi, Paul had earlier written of their duty to stand fast in the Lord, regardless of whether Paul was with them or was "absent" from them (Philippians 1:27).

May the Lord help us all to see these great truths from 1 Timothy 3:14,15. May it be the sincere desire of each of us to faithfully serve in His house.

-- Roger D. Campbell